Transcription

(147 159 In April 1773, a few days before the first temporary withdrawal of the Company's Factory from Basrah, that port was visited by the " Swallow^, sloop-of-war, which, though she brought some bales of piece- goods on freight from Surat, would appear from the name of the Com mander (Sir John Clerke) to have been a Royal Navy vessel. But the only King's ship of whose visit to the Gulf at this time full* details have been preserved was the " SeahorseCaptain George Farmer, which arrived at Bushehr from Bombay and Masqat on the 12th of May 1775, after the commencement of the siege of Basrah by the Persians and the second temporary withdrawal of the British Factory from that place. Captain Farmer had received orders from his Commodore, Sir Edward Hughes, " to assist the East India Company in any place where he "should happen to be, where the Company had any settlement or factory "if it was requested by the Company's servants and, in consequence of these instructions he offered his services for convoying British vessels to Basrah and protecting them there, notwithstanding the siege; but the offer was declined by the British Agent, who had arrived at Bushehr. That there was feeling on the subject of co-operation between the officers of the Royal Navy and the Company's representatives seems to be indicated by Captain Farmer's precaution in taking the traveller, Mr. Parsons with him to Mr. Moore, as " an attesting witness " of his having obeyed his orders. On the 15th of July the "Seahorse" left Bushehr with several vessels which Captain Farmer had undertaken to protect against the Marathas on the voyage to India; and on the 31st she arrived at Masqat, her crew of about 170 men having suffered severely on the way down the Gulf from bad water shipped at Bushehr and from extreme heat. The men frequently fell down on deck from sheer weakness, and the number on the sick list at one time rose to over 50. None died, however ; and, some days after leaving Masqat, Mr. Parsons, who was a passenger on the "Seahorse", was able to remark : " It is a great pleasure to see with what alacrity our seamen " go aloft, and perform their duty, as well as to observe the change of " their complexion, which, from being pale and languid, is become fresh " and lively : they are so much recovered in strength, as to be able to do " twice the duty required of them, whereas before we quitted M uscat, " we could scarcely find men sufficient to do the ordinary duty on board unto'' * But a most important detail escaped the knowledge or notice of contemporaries. Horatio Nelson belonged to the " Seahorse '' at this time and probably took part in this cruise. See foot note, page 1260, post.

Part 1A contains an 'Introduction' (pages i-iii) written by Birdwood in Simla, dated 10 October 1914. There is also a 'Table of Chapters, Annexures, Appendices and Genealogical Tables' (page v-viii) and 'Detailed Table of Contents' (pages ix-cxxx), both of which cover all volumes and parts of the Gazetteer .

Volume I, Part I has been divided into two bound volumes (1A and 1B) for ease of binding. Part 1A contains an 'Introduction', 'Table of Chapters, Annexures, Appendices and Genealogical Trees' and 'Detailed Table of Contents'. The content is arranged into nine chapters, with accompanying annexures, that relate to specific geographic regions in the
Persian Gulf
Historically used by the British to refer to the sea area between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Often referred to as The Gulf or the Arabian Gulf. . The chapters are sub-divided into numbered periods according, for example, to the reign of a ruler or regime of a Viceroy, or are arbitrarily based on outstanding land-marks in the history of the region. Each period has been sub-divided into subject headings, each of which has been lettered. The annexures focus on a specific place or historical event. Further subject headings also appear in the right and left margins of the page. Footnotes appear occasionally at the bottom of the page to provide further details and references.

Volume I, Part IA: The sequence begins on the first folio with text, on number 1, and ends on the last folio with text, on number 456. Total number of folios: 456. Total number of folios including covers and flysheets: 460.

Volume I, Part IB: The sequence begins on the first folio with text, on number 457, and ends on the last folio with text, on number 878. It should be noted that folio 488 is followed by folio 488A. Total number of folios: 423. Total number of folios including covers and flysheets: 427.